Temperate Coniferous Forests
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Austrocedrus Forests of South America Are Pivotal Ecosystems at Risk Due to the Emergence of an Exotic Tree Disease
GSDR 2015 Brief Austrocedrus forests of South America are pivotal ecosystems at risk due to the emergence of an exotic tree disease: can a joint effort of research and policy save them? By Alina Greslebin 1, Maria Laura Vélez 2 and Matteo Garbelotto 3. 1CONICET-Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia SJB, Argentina; 2CONICET-Centro de Investigación y Extensión Forestal Andino Patagónico (CIEFAP), Argentina; 3University of California Berkeley, USA Introduction A. chilensis covers today a total estimated area of Human expansion, global movement, and climate 185,000 ha in South America. As a dominant forest change have led to a number of emerging and re- species, its role in supporting biodiversity, generating emerging diseases. The decline of biodiversity due to shelter for wildlife, as well as preventing soil erosion emerging plants pathogens may cause habitat and and preserving water quality is well understood. Along wildlife loss and declines in ecosystem services. This, in with Araucaria araucana, it is the tree species that turn, often results in lower human well-being. Reports grows furthest into the ecotone zone within the of emerging plant diseases are constantly on the rise, Patagonia steppe, where it plays a key role preventing and often they appear to be linked to the commercial desertification. There are however additional functions trade of plants and plant products. While there are this tree provides, including the production of valuable several examples of decimation or extinction of plant timber and the generation of an environment ideal for hosts affected by invasive forest diseases, there are no cattle grazing, recreational and touristic activities and known cases of invasive forest diseases successfully for human settlement. -
Grassland & Shrubland Vegetation
Grassland & Shrubland Vegetation Missoula Draft Resource Management Plan Handout May 2019 Key Points Approximately 3% of BLM-managed lands in the planning area are non-forested (less than 10% canopy cover); the other 97% are dominated by a forested canopy with limited mountain meadows, shrublands, and grasslands. See table 1 on the following page for a break-down of BLM-managed grassland and shrubland in the planning area classified under the National Vegetation Classification System (NVCS). The overall management goal of grassland and shrubland resources is to maintain diverse upland ecological conditions while providing for a variety of multiple uses that are economically and biologically feasible. Alternatives Alternative A (1986 Garnet RMP, as Amended) Maintain, or where practical enhance, site productivity on all public land available for livestock grazing: (a) maintain current vegetative condition in “maintain” and “custodial” category allotments; (b) improve unsatisfactory vegetative conditions by one condition class in certain “improvement” category allotments; (c) prevent noxious weeds from invading new areas; and, (d) limit utilization levels to provide for plant maintenance. Alternatives B & C (common to all) Proposed objectives: Manage uplands to meet health standards and meet or exceed proper functioning condition within site or ecological capability. Where appropriate, fire would be used as a management agent to achieve/maintain disturbance regimes supporting healthy functioning vegetative conditions. Manage surface-disturbing activities in a manner to minimize degradation to rangelands and soil quality. Mange areas to conserve BLM special status species plants. Ensure consistency with achieving or maintaining Standards of Rangeland Health and Guidelines for Livestock Grazing Management for Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. -
Understanding the Causes of Bush Encroachment in Africa: the Key to Effective Management of Savanna Grasslands
Tropical Grasslands – Forrajes Tropicales (2013) Volume 1, 215−219 Understanding the causes of bush encroachment in Africa: The key to effective management of savanna grasslands OLAOTSWE E. KGOSIKOMA1 AND KABO MOGOTSI2 1Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Gaborone, Botswana. www.moa.gov.bw 2Department of Agricultural Research, Ministry of Agriculture, Francistown, Botswana. www.moa.gov.bw Keywords: Rangeland degradation, fire, indigenous ecological knowledge, livestock grazing, rainfall variability. Abstract The increase in biomass and abundance of woody plant species, often thorny or unpalatable, coupled with the suppres- sion of herbaceous plant cover, is a widely recognized form of rangeland degradation. Bush encroachment therefore has the potential to compromise rural livelihoods in Africa, as many depend on the natural resource base. The causes of bush encroachment are not without debate, but fire, herbivory, nutrient availability and rainfall patterns have been shown to be the key determinants of savanna vegetation structure and composition. In this paper, these determinants are discussed, with particular reference to arid and semi-arid environments of Africa. To improve our current under- standing of causes of bush encroachment, an integrated approach, involving ecological and indigenous knowledge systems, is proposed. Only through our knowledge of causes of bush encroachment, both direct and indirect, can better livelihood adjustments be made, or control measures and restoration of savanna ecosystem functioning be realized. Resumen Una forma ampliamente reconocida de degradación de pasturas es el incremento de la abundancia de especies de plan- tas leñosas, a menudo espinosas y no palatables, y de su biomasa, conjuntamente con la pérdida de plantas herbáceas. En África, la invasión por arbustos puede comprometer el sistema de vida rural ya que muchas personas dependen de los recursos naturales básicos. -
Edition 2 from Forest to Fjaeldmark the Vegetation Communities Highland Treeless Vegetation
Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark The Vegetation Communities Highland treeless vegetation Richea scoparia Edition 2 From Forest to Fjaeldmark 1 Highland treeless vegetation Community (Code) Page Alpine coniferous heathland (HCH) 4 Cushion moorland (HCM) 6 Eastern alpine heathland (HHE) 8 Eastern alpine sedgeland (HSE) 10 Eastern alpine vegetation (undifferentiated) (HUE) 12 Western alpine heathland (HHW) 13 Western alpine sedgeland/herbland (HSW) 15 General description Rainforest and related scrub, Dry eucalypt forest and woodland, Scrub, heathland and coastal complexes. Highland treeless vegetation communities occur Likewise, some non-forest communities with wide within the alpine zone where the growth of trees is environmental amplitudes, such as wetlands, may be impeded by climatic factors. The altitude above found in alpine areas. which trees cannot survive varies between approximately 700 m in the south-west to over The boundaries between alpine vegetation communities are usually well defined, but 1 400 m in the north-east highlands; its exact location depends on a number of factors. In many communities may occur in a tight mosaic. In these parts of Tasmania the boundary is not well defined. situations, mapping community boundaries at Sometimes tree lines are inverted due to exposure 1:25 000 may not be feasible. This is particularly the or frost hollows. problem in the eastern highlands; the class Eastern alpine vegetation (undifferentiated) (HUE) is used in There are seven specific highland heathland, those areas where remote sensing does not provide sedgeland and moorland mapping communities, sufficient resolution. including one undifferentiated class. Other highland treeless vegetation such as grasslands, herbfields, A minor revision in 2017 added information on the grassy sedgelands and wetlands are described in occurrence of peatland pool complexes, and other sections. -
Existing Vegetation Classification and Mapping
Existing Vegetation Classification and Mapping Technical Guide Version 1.0 Guide Version Classification and Mapping Technical Existing Vegetation United States Department of Agriculture Existing Vegetation Forest Service Classification and Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff Mapping Technical Guide Gen. Tech. Report WO-67 Version 1.0 April 2005 United States Department of Agriculture Existing Vegetation Forest Service Classification and Ecosystem Management Coordination Staff Mapping Technical Guide Gen. Tech. Report WO-67 Version 1.0 April 2005 Ronald J. Brohman and Larry D. Bryant Technical Editors and Coordinators Authored by: Section 1: Existing Vegetation Classification and Mapping Framework David Tart, Clinton K. Williams, C. Kenneth Brewer, Jeff P. DiBenedetto, and Brian Schwind Section 2: Existing Vegetation Classification Protocol David Tart, Clinton K. Williams, Jeff P. DiBenedetto, Elizabeth Crowe, Michele M. Girard, Hazel Gordon, Kathy Sleavin, Mary E. Manning, John Haglund, Bruce Short, and David L. Wheeler Section 3: Existing Vegetation Mapping Protocol C. Kenneth Brewer, Brian Schwind, Ralph J. Warbington, William Clerke, Patricia C. Krosse, Lowell H. Suring, and Michael Schanta Team Members Technical Editors Ronald J. Brohman National Resource Information Requirements Coordinator, Washington Office Larry D. Bryant Assistant Director, Forest and Range Management Staff, Washington Office Authors David Tart Regional Vegetation Ecologist, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT C. Kenneth Brewer Landscape Ecologist/Remote Sensing Specialist, Northern Region, Missoula, MT Brian Schwind Remote Sensing Specialist, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, CA Clinton K. Williams Plant Ecologist, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT Ralph J. Warbington Remote Sensing Lab Manager, Pacific Southwest Region, Sacramento, CA Jeff P. DiBenedetto Ecologist, Custer National Forest, Billings, MT Elizabeth Crowe Riparian/Wetland Ecologist, Deschutes National Forest, Bend, OR William Clerke Remote Sensing Program Manager, Southern Region, Atlanta GA Michele M. -
Chapter 3 Vegetation Diversity 3
Chapter 3 Vegetation Diversity Vegetation Diversity INTRODUCTION Biodiversity has been defined as the variety of living organisms; the genetic differences among them; and the communities, ecosystems and landscapes in which they occur (Noss 1990, West 1995). Biodiversity has leapt to the forefront of issues due to a variety of reasons; changing societal values, accelerated species extinctions, global environmental change, aesthetic values, and the value of goods and services supplied (West 1995). Maintenance of ecological functions, processes, and disturbance regimes is as important as preserving species, their populations, genetic structure, biotic communities, and landscapes. Hence ecosystem-level processes, services, and disturbances must be considered within the arena of biodiversity concerns (West and Whitford 1995). The biological diversity that is supported by a particular area is generally a positive function of the degree of environmental heterogeneity occurring over space and time within that area (Longland and Young 1995). Vegetation is a cornerstone of biological diversity. Vegetation exerts its influence into almost every facet of the biophysical world. Many biophysical processes and functions depend on or are connected to vegetative conditions. Vegetation is an integral part of ecosystem composition, function, and structure. Vegetation shapes and in turn, is shaped by the ecosystems in which it occurs. It provides plant and animal habitat, and determines wildfire and insect hazards. Leaves, branches, and roots contribute to soil productivity and stability. Large wood in streams increases physical complexity, providing more habitat diversity. Vegetation shades streams, helping to maintain desirable water temperature, and also acts as a physical and biological barrier or filter for sediment and debris flowing from adjacent hillsides toward streams. -
7. Shrubland and Young Forest Habitat Management
7. SHRUBLAND AND YOUNG FOREST HABITAT MANAGEMENT hrublands” and “Young Forest” are terms that apply to areas Shrubland habitat and that are transitioning to mature forest and are dominated by young forest differ in “Sseedlings, saplings, and shrubs with interspersed grasses and forbs (herbaceous plants). While some sites such as wetlands, sandy sites vegetation types and and ledge areas can support a relatively stable shrub cover, most shrub communities in the northeast are successional and change rapidly to food and cover they mature forest if left unmanaged. Shrub and young forest habitats in Vermont provide important habitat provide, as well as functions for a variety of wildlife including shrubland birds, butterflies and bees, black bear, deer, moose, snowshoe hare, bobcat, as well as a where and how they variety of reptiles and amphibians. Many shrubland species are in decline due to loss of habitat. Shrubland bird species in Vermont include common are maintained on the species such as chestnut-sided warbler, white-throated sparrow, ruffed grouse, Eastern towhee, American woodcock, brown thrasher, Nashville landscape. warbler, and rarer species such as prairie warbler and golden-winged warbler. These habitat types are used by 29 Vermont Species of Greatest Conservation Need. While small areas of shrub and young forest habitat can be important to some wildlife, managing large patches of 5 acres or more provides much greater benefit to the wildlife that rely on the associated habitat conditions to meet their life requirements. Birds such as the chestnut- sided warbler will use smaller areas of young forest, but less common species such as golden-winged warbler require areas of 25 acres or more. -
Mapping Vegetation Types in a Savanna Ecosystem in Namibia: Concepts for Integrated Land Cover Assessments
Mapping Vegetation Types in a Savanna Ecosystem in Namibia: Concepts for Integrated Land Cover Assessments Christian H ttich Dissertation zur Erlangung des naturwissenschaftlichen Doktorgrades der Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena Mapping Vegetation Types in a Savanna Ecosystem in Namibia: Concepts for Integrated Land Cover Assessments Dissertation zur Erlangung des akademischen Grades doctor rerum naturalium (Dr. rer. nat.) vorgelegt dem Rat der Chemisch-Geowissenschaftlichen Fakult t der Friedrich-Schiller-Universit t Jena von Dipl.-Geogr. Christian H&ttich geboren am 12. Mai 19,9 in Jena 1 2 Gutachter- 1. .rof. Dr. Christiane Schmullius 2. .rof. Dr. Stefan Dech (Universit t /&rzburg) 0ag der 1ffentlichen 2erteidigung- 29.04.2011 3 Acknowledgements I _____________________________________________________________________________________ Ackno ledgements 0his dissertation would not have been possible without the help of a large number of people. First of all I want to thank the scientific committee of this work- .rof. Dr. Christiane Schmullius and .rof. Dr. Stefan Dech for their always present motivation and fruitful discussions. I am e9tremely grateful to my scientific mentor .rof. Dr. Martin Herold, for his never-ending receptiveness to numerous questions from my side, for his clear guidance for the definition of the main research issues, the frequent feedback regarding the structure and content of my research, and for his contagious enthusiasm for remote sensing of the environment. Acknowledgements are given to the former remote sensing team of “BIO0A S&d?- Dr. Ursula Gessner (DFD-DLR), Dr. Rene Colditz (COAABIO, Me9ico), Manfred Beil (DFD-DLR), and Dr. Michael Schmidt (COAABIO, Me9ico) for e9tremely fruitful discussions, criticism, and technical support during all phases of the dissertation. -
Ecoveg: a New Approach to Vegetation Description and Classification
REVIEWS Ecological Monographs, 84(4), 2014, pp. 533–561 Ó 2014 by the Ecological Society of America EcoVeg: a new approach to vegetation description and classification 1,11 2 3,12 4 5 DON FABER-LANGENDOEN, TODD KEELER-WOLF, DEL MEIDINGER, DAVE TART, BRUCE HOAGLAND, CARMEN 1 6 7 8 9 10 JOSSE, GONZALO NAVARRO, SERGUEI PONOMARENKO, JEAN-PIERRE SAUCIER, ALAN WEAKLEY, AND PATRICK COMER 1NatureServe, Conservation Science Division, 4600 North Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203 USA 2Biogeographic Data Branch, California Department of Fish and Game, Sacramento, California 95814 USA 3British Columbia Ministry of Forests and Range, Research Branch, Victoria, British Columbia V8W 9C2 Canada 4USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Natural Resources, Ogden, Utah 84401 USA 5Oklahoma Biological Survey and Department of Geography, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma 73019 USA 6Universidad Cato´lica Boliviana San Pablo, Unidad Acade´mica Regional Cochabamba Departamento de Ciencias Exactas e Ingenierı´as, Carrera de Ingenierı´a Ambiental, Cochabamba, Bolivia 7Ecological Integrity Branch, Parks Canada, Rue Eddy, Gatineau, Quebec K1A 0M5 Canada 8Ministe`re des Ressources Naturelles 2700, Rue Einstein, Bureau B-1-185, Quebec City, Quebec G1P 3W8 Canada 9North Carolina Botanic Garden, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 USA 10NatureServe, 2108 55th Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301 USA Abstract. A vegetation classification approach is needed that can describe the diversity of terrestrial ecosystems and their transformations over large time frames, span the full range of spatial and geographic scales across the globe, and provide knowledge of reference conditions and current states of ecosystems required to make decisions about conservation and resource management. -
Glossary and Acronyms Glossary Glossary
Glossary andChapter Acronyms 1 ©Kevin Fleming ©Kevin Horseshoe crab eggs Glossary and Acronyms Glossary Glossary 40% Migratory Bird “If a refuge, or portion thereof, has been designated, acquired, reserved, or set Hunting Rule: apart as an inviolate sanctuary, we may only allow hunting of migratory game birds on no more than 40 percent of that refuge, or portion, at any one time unless we find that taking of any such species in more than 40 percent of such area would be beneficial to the species (16 U.S.C. 668dd(d)(1)(A), National Wildlife Refuge System Administration Act; 16 U.S.C. 703-712, Migratory Bird Treaty Act; and 16 U.S.C. 715a-715r, Migratory Bird Conservation Act). Abiotic: Not biotic; often referring to the nonliving components of the ecosystem such as water, rocks, and mineral soil. Access: Reasonable availability of and opportunity to participate in quality wildlife- dependent recreation. Accessibility: The state or quality of being easily approached or entered, particularly as it relates to complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Accessible facilities: Structures accessible for most people with disabilities without assistance; facilities that meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards; Americans with Disabilities Act-accessible. [E.g., parking lots, trails, pathways, ramps, picnic and camping areas, restrooms, boating facilities (docks, piers, gangways), fishing facilities, playgrounds, amphitheaters, exhibits, audiovisual programs, and wayside sites.] Acetylcholinesterase: An enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitter acetycholine to choline and acetate. Acetylcholinesterase is secreted by nerve cells at synapses and by muscle cells at neuromuscular junctions. Organophosphorus insecticides act as anti- acetyl cholinesterases by inhibiting the action of cholinesterase thereby causing neurological damage in organisms. -
Supporting Information
Supporting Information Mao et al. 10.1073/pnas.1114319109 SI Text BEAST Analyses. In addition to a BEAST analysis that used uniform Selection of Fossil Taxa and Their Phylogenetic Positions. The in- prior distributions for all calibrations (run 1; 144-taxon dataset, tegration of fossil calibrations is the most critical step in molecular calibrations as in Table S4), we performed eight additional dating (1, 2). We only used the fossil taxa with ovulate cones that analyses to explore factors affecting estimates of divergence could be assigned unambiguously to the extant groups (Table S4). time (Fig. S3). The exact phylogenetic position of fossils used to calibrate the First, to test the effect of calibration point P, which is close to molecular clocks was determined using the total-evidence analy- the root node and is the only functional hard maximum constraint ses (following refs. 3−5). Cordaixylon iowensis was not included in in BEAST runs using uniform priors, we carried out three runs the analyses because its assignment to the crown Acrogymno- with calibrations A through O (Table S4), and calibration P set to spermae already is supported by previous cladistic analyses (also [306.2, 351.7] (run 2), [306.2, 336.5] (run 3), and [306.2, 321.4] using the total-evidence approach) (6). Two data matrices were (run 4). The age estimates obtained in runs 2, 3, and 4 largely compiled. Matrix A comprised Ginkgo biloba, 12 living repre- overlapped with those from run 1 (Fig. S3). Second, we carried out two runs with different subsets of sentatives from each conifer family, and three fossils taxa related fi to Pinaceae and Araucariaceae (16 taxa in total; Fig. -
Methods for Measuring Frost Tolerance of Conifers: a Systematic Map
Review Methods for Measuring Frost Tolerance of Conifers: A Systematic Map Anastasia-Ainhoa Atucha Zamkova *, Katherine A. Steele and Andrew R. Smith School of Natural Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2UW, Gwynedd, UK; [email protected] (K.A.S.); [email protected] (A.R.S.) * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Frost tolerance is the ability of plants to withstand freezing temperatures without unrecov- erable damage. Measuring frost tolerance involves various steps, each of which will vary depending on the objectives of the study. This systematic map takes an overall view of the literature that uses frost tolerance measuring techniques in gymnosperms, focusing mainly on conifers. Many different techniques have been used for testing, and there has been little change in methodology since 2000. The gold standard remains the field observation study, which, due to its cost, is frequently substituted by other techniques. Closed enclosure freezing tests (all non-field freezing tests) are done using various types of equipment for inducing artificial freezing. An examination of the literature indicates that several factors have to be controlled in order to measure frost tolerance in a manner similar to observation in a field study. Equipment that allows controlling the freezing rate, frost exposure time and thawing rate would obtain results closer to field studies. Other important factors in study design are the number of test temperatures used, the range of temperatures selected and the decrements between the temperatures, which should be selected based on expected frost tolerance of the tissue and species. Citation: Atucha Zamkova, A.-A.; Steele, K.A.; Smith, A.R.